Sheridan will be responsible for the governance of the diocese until a new bishop has been ordained and installed.

Former Bishop Fernando Isern resigned unexpectedly last week, citing health problems. He was the fourth bishop to lead the diocese.

Sheridan was born in 1945 in St. Louis and grew up in the suburb of Jennings.

After attending Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo., for one year, Sheridan entered Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in St. Louis. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1967 and then entered Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1971, after earning a Master of Divinity degree.

After his ordination, he earned a master’s degree in historical theology in 1973 at St. Louis University before embarking on a three-year stay in Rome. He attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas there, earning a license in sacred theology in 1976. Four years later, he earned a doctorate in the same subject.

Sheridan served the Archdiocese of St. Louis as an associate pastor in several parishes before being named pastor of Christ the King Parish in University City, Mo., in 1988. He served as pastor of Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights, Mo., from 1993 until 1997.

He was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese in 1997. In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Sheridan coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He became the diocesan bishop on January 30, 2003.

Sheridan is a well-respected teacher of the faith and has taught theology on the high school, college and graduate levels, including 10 years as a professor of systematic theology at Kenrick Seminary, according to a press release.

He currently serves on the boards of trustees of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.

Having served on several committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sheridan is a consultant to the Committee on Catholic Education and a member of the Administrative Committee and the Committee for Priorities and Plans of the USCCB. He also is chairman of the Episcopal Advisory Board of the Catholic Radio Association.

Sheridan will be introduced to the Pueblo Diocese as he presides at the farewell vespers honoring Bishop Emeritus Fernando Isern at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.